Can-opener



- (Mmm G. D. MUNSING. CAN OPENER. y

, 510,541,565. .Patented June 25, 1895.

UNITED STATES- vPATE-NT OEETCE.

GEORGE D. MUNSING, OE MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTAASSIGNOE OE ONE- HALE To HENRY A. MUNSING, OE LUDLOw, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 5413566, dated June 25, 1895. Application tiled August 16 1894. Serial lo. 520,540. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom. if may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. MUNSING, of the city of Minneapolis', county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented a certain new and Improved Can-Opener, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to can openers, and the object I have in view is to provide a neat and formed so that meat and other canned goods of similarl consistency may be easily and quickly removed therefrom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a can opener having a guard for the knife so there will be no danger of its cutting the hand of the operator should the instrument slip while in use.

My invention consists generally in a cast metal handle provided with'a lip or extension adapted to rest upon the top of the can and form a guide and guard for the knife, a flange or projection having a corrugated face adapted to press upon the side of the can forming a fulcrum, and a curved knife between which and the corrugated [iange the wall ofthe can is inserted and out, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciication, Figure l is a perspective of the canopener. Fig. 2 is a perspective showing the position of the device when in use, the lip resting upon the top of the can, and the corrugated ange engaging the side thereof.

In the drawings, 2 represents acan of size and construction.

3 is the handle ofthe can opener, made preferably of cast metal. At the extreme end of the handle 3 at one side thereof and extending outwardly at nearly right angles therewith is a lug or projection 4: provided with a ange 5 having a vertically corrugated face anyVV which presses upon the side of the can and serves as a fulcrum for the handle 3. The luga terminates in a broad att-ened lip 6 which extends in a direction nearly parallel with the handle 3 and on substantially the same plane as theglower side of the corrugated Iiange 5. The lip 6 serves the double purpose of a guide to prevent the knife from cutting down too far into the wall of the can andas a guard to prevent the knife from cutting the operators hand should the device accidentally slip out of position during the operation of opening the can. l

A shallow groove is provided on the under sideof the handle 3 at the extreme end thereof, and a curved double-edged knife 7 is provided having one end fitted into said groove and securely riveted to the handle 3. 7 is curved toward the corrugated flange or fulcrum 5, so that there is a small space between the inner edge of the knife and said flange, and the knife blade terminates in a sharp point that is adapted to pierce the side of a can.

The operation of the device isas follows: The wall of the can to be opened is pierced by the sharp point of the knife 7 and the blade thrust into the opening until the corrugated flange 5 engages the side of the can. The knife blade will then be on the inside of the can, and a section of the sidewall will be between the corrugated flange 5 andthe inner edge of the knife blade '7, and the lip 6 will rest upon the top of the can, as shown in Fig. 2, and will form a guide and guard for the knife or cutter. The corrugated flange pressing upon the side of the can acts as a fulcrum land aids very materially in holding the knife in position. After the device has been placed in position to be operated the handle is moved back and forth and the 'metal between the inner edge of the knife and the corrugated fiange will be eut evenly and quickly without any danger of cutting the hands or spilling the contents of the can.

-The fulcrnm or flange 5 pressing upon the The knife ICO The device with the exception of the knife is preferably cast in one piece and may be finished in any suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A can opener, consisting of a handle provided with a lateral extension, said extension having a face to rest upon the side 'of the can forming a fulcrum, a knife secured to said handle and curved laterally in the same direction as said lateral extension, a space being provided between the edge of said knife and the face of said extension to receive the metal to be cui, said knife being provided with a sharp point, and said extension termihating in a lip to rest upon the top of the can to act as a guide for the knife andas a shield for the sharp pointJ thereof, substantially as described and for Jthepurpose set forth.

2. A can opener, consisting of a handle provided With a lateral extension, said extension having a corrugated face to rest upon the side of the can, forming a fulcrum, a double edged knife secured to said handle and curved laterally in the same direction as said lateral extension; a space being provided between one of the edges of said knife and the face of said extension to receive the metal to be cut, said knife being provided with a sharp point, and said extension terminating in a lip to rest upon the top of the can to act as a guide for the knife and as a shield for the sharp edge thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July, A. D. 1894.

GEORGE D. MUNSING.

C. G. HAWLEY, M. E. GooLEY. 

